While Star Trek fans might like to pretend the ongoing feud between George Takei and William Shatner doesn’t exist — I do the same thing with my favorite bands, don’t worry — the bickering’s been heavily documentedovertheyears. Last night on Real Time, Bill Maher asked about the seemingly never-ending beef and Takei finally revealed why he can’t stand being around good ole Captain Kirk.

“He is Canadian. And Canadians have a certain image of being even-tempered and friendly and all that,” Takei said of Shatner. “Well, he is a person who is that way … with himself. He is very self-centered.”

He said that the men are both professionals and so they are able to get the work done. “But, it’s with a lot of difficulty,” he conceded.

Maher mixed his Star franchises by saying, “It’s not like you’re going to drive the ship into a Death Star just to spite him.”

“The temptation is there,” Takei said.

The conversation then switched gears to the topic of gay rights. According to Takei, nearly the entire cast and crew of Star Trek during the late ’60s knew that he was gay. Well, not everyone exactly. “It went right over his head,” he laughed, implying his oblivious sparring partner Shatner.

Sucks to be Canadian and clueless, huh? It’s okay, though. We still love you, Captain. And, yes, you too, the ever-fragrant Hikaru Sulu. Watch the full interview below.

I’m not a Stern listener, but when I lived in Ca. and had Sirius in the car, I listened to his show one afternoon. It was Stern, Artie Lange (sp?), Takei, and a couple other comedians whose names I don’t remember. It was this truly bizarre combination of people but damned if it wasn’t one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard in my life. At one point I was crying from laughing so hard and had to pull the car over – otherwise I was going to crash.

In the right situation, with the right people to play off him – Takei is comedy gold.

I can’t watch Shatner in anything anymore without being reminded of Galaxy Quest’s behind-the-scenes antics. I hate Tim Allen with a passion but he is goddamn brilliant in that way-underrated film. Takei called his Shatner-esque performance near-perfect IIRC.

Comedy Central has had GQ on quite a few times over the past few weeks. I think I saw it in theaters when it first came out because I find it to be one of those ‘set the remote down’ kinda movies (Shawshank, Tombstone, etc) but I think the real selling point is Sigourney Weaver with blond hair and her tits half out most of the movie. And just so people don’t miss that, I’m going to stick it out there on its own line.

Sigourney Weaver with blond hair and her tits half out most of the movie.

The snarky Canadian comment was from Uproxx, not Takei. He only said we had an image of being even-tempered and friendly. I’m so even-tempered and friendly I’m not even bothered that Uproxx thinks being Canadian somehow sucks, heh.

Mr Takei forgets that he is a very well off man because of Star Trek.
He also forgets that there are more important things to be concerned about than being a gay actor.
He forgets that there are millions of Americans who are out of work.
We could care less what he does or does not do in the privacy of his own home and bedroom but we get very irritated that he thinks that it is more important than full employment.
Talk about Ego?
I don’t see Takei speaking out on the plight of Long term unemployed Americans.
Shatner does talk about it….

roflmao. Wow thats several fallacies of logic in your “argument” IDK where you think out of work americans has to do with ANYTHING here!?!?!!?!?, So WHAT of shatner talks about it how about the thousands of other problems facing the country and world you frakking idiot. GT DOES do charity and educational work, His books, show and more prove that. And your ignorance is just astounding. what do YOU do about out of work americans (other than use that bs line as an excuse to attack GT. And attack his career and sexuality. oh bravo to you for such ignorance that has to be cultivated im sure

Maybe Sulu had a galactic crush on ol’ Kirk and was holding a grudge against his former captain for doing the green chick. That’s how Sulu got his long-awaited boy toy with Christian Slater’s character.

Wow..just wow.. So George isn’t a man, hes a “gay, asian man” which you use to attack and belittle him, but the joke take of canadians gets you upset .. I wonder “what the fuck” being asian and gay has to do with it. wow pot meet kettle, but for you i say YAY FOR IGNORANCE!!!

I love George Takei (no homo!) but it’s always been obvious that he’s a bit self-centered himself. Pretty sure it usually goes with the territory of being an actor.

Never heard him on Stern, but for a long time he would tell the story from one of those awful ST movies where Ensign Sulu was promoted to “Captain Sulu” and he was supposed to have a big Starfleet Captain moment that Shatner somehow upstaged by moving in the background or something. Lol.

‘”He is Canadian. And Canadians have a certain image of being even-tempered and friendly and all that,” Takei said of Shatner. “Well, he is a person who is that way … with himself. He is very self-centered.”’

What he is saying, is that all Canadians are even-tempered and friendly.
Shatner is the same, but only with HIMSELF. He actually flattered Canadians with his description.

Was that so hard to understand? Let me guess. You’re one of the ones that also thought Spielberg killed a dinosaur?

It has nothing to do with Canadians. I heard George talk a long time ago about how Will would bitch to directors of Star Trek and get other actor’s scenes cut to give him more time, and he apparently got away with it most of the time. It diminished the other actor’s respect for him, not just George.